Democrats' most wanted donors

Democratic super PACs are anxious for uber-donors to cut big checks — and they’ve got their eye on a list of likely suspects to come off the sidelines.

Republicans boast 15 donors who’ve given $1 million or more this cycle — compared to Democrats, who have a single million-plus dollar donor (plus a $1 million pledge from comedian Bill Maher). At least 10 other Democratic mega-donors are seriously lagging behind their 2004 and 2008 giving.

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The four remaining GOP presidential candidates and the biggest conservative super PAC, American Crossroads, had outraised the four main Democratic super PACs by $65.8 million — a ratio of nearly 6-1, according to the latest reports.

President Barack Obama’s campaign committee has outpaced the conservative super PACs, with $96.6 million in the bank, but Democrats are frustrated that their super PACs aren’t keeping up. They hope that once a clear opponent is in place, the trend will reverse and a handful of bellwether donors give in and pony up — opening the floodgates for mega fundraising.

“There has been an increase in interest and enthusiasm for our effort and I suspect that once there is a GOP nominee, that will only increase,” said Bill Burton, co-founder of Priorities USA Action, the super PAC pushing for President Barack Obama’s reelection.

Here’s a list of POLITICO’s 10 big Democratic donors to watch, compiled using data from the Center for Responsive Politics:

The Wild Cards: A handful of the richest Democratic supporters haven’t been clear about their plans for the super PAC supporting President Barack Obama, although they’ve been aggressively courted by Democratic donors. If they give, it could be an immediate boon to Democrats and possibly a reassuring sign to skeptical liberal donors.

George Soros — The billionaire Democratic megadonor contributed $23.7 million in 2004 to Democratic 527 groups supporting Sen. John Kerry’s presidential bid and opposing President George W. Bush. But so far this cycle, he’s donated a total of just $175,000 to two Democratic super PACs aimed at aiding House and Senate candidates. Soros hasn’t donated to the pro-Obama super PAC and has publicly expressed disappointment with the president.

freemind123: "I wish was tommorow and we were done with the negative ads."

Amen. I have a positive view of the future. One where it is okay to be Christian in America again. I see a future where people are allowed to make their own money and determine how it should be spent. I see a future where children of this once great nation can get a good education, not an indoctrination by feds trying to make people into government dependents. The future libbers want us to have is a dire, desperate future that is not pretty at all. I think the tone of politics in 2013 changes drastically, once Americans realize there are still people in politics who believe in the Constitution, believe in family, individual liberty, community, and in America. I am quite optimistic!

"They hope that once a clear opponent is in place, the trend will reverse and a handful of bellwether donors give in and pony up — opening the floodgates for mega fundraising."

Rest assured, the political machine of the status quo political ruling class will finance Barack Obama's campain......The pol is talented at squeezing money out of his special interest backers in order to maintain the same failed policies that put us in our current ruin. President Obama is prepared to do what it takes, using the money of both rich and poor, to hold on to what he holds dear.....power.

Yes, all of the elites, lead by Mr. Obama, will have the resources to protect their positions, even if they have to lie to get the money necessary.......

"The vast majority of the money I got was from small donors all across the country.''

And lookie here.....Mr. Obama is blowing the dog whistle that gets all of his mindless cultists in the progressive base to get out their wallets and use their credit cards......

In just about 24 hours, Mitt Romney is headed to a hotel ballroom to give a speech sponsored by Americans for Prosperity, a front group founded and funded by the Koch brothers.

Those are the same Koch brothers whose business model is to make millions by jacking up prices at the pump, and who bankrolled Tea Party extremism, and committed $200 million to try to destroy President Obama before Election Day.

So in the hours before Romney courts two men obsessed with making Barack Obama a one-term president, let’s see how many of us can chip in to the Two-Term Fund.

Oh my, oh my.....come now rational and intellectually superior "progressives"......tell us how those nasty businessmen are responsible for higher gasoline prices! Tell us how those bad ol' oil companies and speculators are trying to keep HOPE AND CHANGE from holding on to the presidency by raising pump prices and hurting our recovery! Use all of the illogical demagoguery OFA feeds you like pablum to babies to help the elitist, Barack Obama, keep his power!

Hurrah!

And donate more of your hard earned money to the millionaire and special interest protector, Barack Obama!

That is good news when George Soros gets disappointed. If he wants to dictate things in this country, then run for President, Senate or House. Otherwise, stay on the sidelines as you are doing now. Good for Obama to annoy George Soros.

In the general election, Obama got about 34 percent of his individual donations from small donors, people who gave $200 or less, according to a report from the Campaign Finance Institute. Another 23 percent of donations came from people who gave between $201 and $999

so 57% from donors below 1,000, and they don't say how many of them were under $500.

Exactly WHAT is it that Obama and the Dems have done in the last 3.2 years that you want MORE of?

Concentrate for a moment, and think back to the first 2 years of the Obama regime. The left had totally unrestricted power with wide margins in both chambers, and a radical in the White House. What did they do in those first two years that you would like to see more of?

A large check written to reelect Obama is a check written for the destruction of the United States!

Our economy, and our Constitution cannot survive another 4 years of Obama. It's that simple.

so 57% from donors below 1,000, and they don't say how many of them were under $500.

Depends on the definition of small.

Curt22

Member Since: Aug. 23, 2008

Party: Democrat

Sure, Obamabot......use the story that calls President Obama a liar to try to defend him.......Try again.

I know it is hard to accept the fact that Obama is just like Romney in being an establishment DC candidate ready to do the bidding of his special interest campain backers. I know it is hard for a spoonfed progressive to realize they have been led by the nose to support millionaires, corporations and all the other groups you like to believe are your enemies. I know it is difficult for any Obamabot to finally be rational and see that Barack Obama is no different than the candidate he will face from the other status quo party in November......

You want to believe you are smart and intelleigent even after you show you believe the hype and lies of the smartest man to ever be president!

Didn't the Obama campaign tell us they thought they would raise a billion dollars? Now he's embracing Democrat Super Pacs apparently because his goal of a billion is not being realilzed. Didn't he also say at the state of the union they he opposed the decision by the Supremes deciding that superpacs were ok? Boy the guy is conflicted.

Our economy, and our Constitution cannot survive another 4 years of Obama. It's that simple.

Or that hysterical.

You aren't a 14 yr. old girl, by any chance, are you? I mean, the melodrama!

But hey, we (barely) survived the Republicans corrupting the US Dept. of Justice to win elections (although ,granted, the economy did NOT survive 12 years of Republican rule). We'll survive another 4 years of Obama moving the economy in the right direction and not corrupting the Dept. of Justice.

Peter Lewis - The Progressive Insurance Chairman donated $23.2 million to the pro-Kerry 527 groups in 2004. This cycle, he’s contributed $200,000 to the American Bridge 21st Century

Discover the Networks has an in-depth look at this titan of the insurance business. You gotta love hypocrites who operate on this level. Peter Lewis makes hundreds of MILLIONS of dollars selling insurance to Americans in our competitive free market, and at the same time, he funds RADICAL left-wing causes which are intent on destroying our way of life!

If you do business with Progressive Insurance, you are funding the destruction of the American way of life.

Surely the Democratic millionaires and billionaires, like most uber-rich people, are competitive and proud. Since childhood lasts a lifetime, adults are mainly overgrown kids, and as such will get into competitive "mine is bigger than yours" pride games. That's why I expect to see the Democratic millionaires to become competitive with the PAC-feeding Republican millionaires this year. The multimillionaires in the liberal movie industry alone should be able to grow a super PAC that would make American Crossroads look like pocket change. What they are waiting for, however, baffles me. Maybe it's as the authors suggest: they are waiting until the Republicans finally decide on a nominee.

Danbury: "You aren't a 14 yr. old girl, by any chance, are you? I mean, the melodrama!"

Can you be serious? You don't see how thoroughly obysmal is dismantling our nation? This man through an executive order ordered the execution of an American citizen. No trial, no formal charges, just flat out murder. This is the guy who is supposedly against torture and indefinite detention. Last I checked Bush left those detainees alive. Oh, should I remind you, obysmal still allows torture and indefinite detention. He signed a renewal to that provision. This is just one of thousands of violations that obysmal has personally committed against the Constitution and the American people. Should we talk about how obysmal bypassed Congress and bombed Libya killing thousands of innocent Libyans?